Tom Kurvers embraces new role with USA Hockey

Tom Kurvers embraces new role with USA HockeyTom Kurvers, the senior advisor to Steve Yzerman, joined the U.S. Men\'s National Team Advisory Group and is tackling his new role with USA Hockey

It's like being a rookie all over again for Tom Kurvers.

Kurvers, who serves as the senior advisor to Steve Yzerman, joined the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group this year to assist with the selection of players and staff for the Men's National teams.

USAHockey.com writer Brian Pinelli sat down with Kurvers in Minsk, Belarus at the IIHF Wold Championships to discuss his new role and what it's like being a rookie inside USA Hockey again.

Here's an excerpt of the article. To read the full article, click here.

“You’re not going to re-invent anything, you just step in and try to understand what their process is,” said the 51-year-old Kurvers about joining the advisory group. “There is a lot of communication, but the process is very precise and they know the pace of things to build the team.”

At the world championship in Minsk, Kurvers continues to witness firsthand the skilled and savvy play of his Tampa Bay Lightning rookie of the year candidate, Tyler Johnson. The 23-year-old Johnson – who had 24 goals and 26 assists for the Lightning this season – has skated on the most productive line for Team USA alongside Craig Smith and Brock Nelson, scoring two goals and three assists in five games.

“He’s really made great progress over the last couple of years,” Kurvers said about Johnson. “He was undrafted, we were able to sign him and he’s earned everything he’s had in the NHL. I think when he comes to an event like this, it just broadens the number of people who know how good he is.”

Seeing Kurvers around the arena and collaborating with the advisory group, it is evident that the two-time member of the U.S. Men’s National Team (1987, ’89) relishes his new role and return to ice hockey’s global championship.